What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Hopkinton
People
Population	9,207Lowest	19,358Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+25.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	40.8±1.6Lowest about the MA average
	Douglas and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	29.5%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	12.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Douglas and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	77.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA	$222,801±$22kHighest 114% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$802,700±$39kHighest 43% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA	$2,641±$361Highest 50% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hopkinton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 22 yrs newer than MA	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#177 of 282 in MA	#5 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Hopkinton
High school in town	Douglas High School	Hopkinton High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	14.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.